Injured Barnes avoids surgery

Sydney - Wallabies vice-captain Berrick Barnes will not require surgery on an injured ankle which forced him home before the opening game of Australia's tour of Japan and Europe, the Australian Rugby Union said on Monday.

Barnes, 23, rolled his left ankle at training before Saturday's Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand in Tokyo, with a scan subsequently revealing that he had torn ligaments.

Barnes returned home on Sunday and consulted a specialist on Monday.

The ARU said no firm timeline has been set on Barnes' return to training.

"But there's no reason why I shouldn't be right for the start of the Super 14 season," Barnes said in a statement.

"It is good news that I don't need surgery and it's a matter now of working hard on the rehab."

Barnes has left the Reds to play with the Waratahs for the 2010 Super 14 season.